Cabinet for prints



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. W. HEYSINGER.

CABINET FOR PRINTS, BOOKS, 650.

- Patented Oct. 12, 1886.

v V IL IIIIIIIIITIIIII II INVENTOR ETERS. Pbflo'Lilncgrapher. Wnhington. 0 c.

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. W. HEYSINGER.

CABINET FOR PRINTS, BOOKS, 6m.

Patent Qct. 12, 1886.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC W. HEYSINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CABINET FOR PRINTS, BOOKS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,588. dated October 12, 1886.

' Application filed April 8, 1886. Serial No. 198.175. (ModeL) To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC W. HEYSINGER, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cabinets for Prints, Books, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view from beneath of a printcabinet embodying my invention.

containing drawers or slides. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section "through the middle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the.

part of the cabinet partially broken away to show the position of a slide or drawer open for use. Fig. 7 shows the cabinet mounted upon trunnions at the ends thereof to enable the same to be inclined to one sideor the other. Fig. 8 is one of my cabinets embodied in a parlor or other ornamental table. Fig. 9 is a similar cabinet having the slides or drawers arranged for books, instead of prints or dravi ings, and having a centrally-hinged instead of longitudinally-sliding cover; and Fig. 10 is a view of a modification of my cabinet,in which the slides are inclined in an opposite direction to those shown in the other figures.

The lettering in all the figures is uniform. My invention relates to the construction of a cabinet or case for containing prints, engravings, drawings, maps, plans, books, &c.,in a series of separate receptacles, slides, drawers, or portfolios. I

' My invention consists, first, in the construction of a table-such, for instance, as a library, parlor, or architectural drafting-tablewith a sliding cover to move longitudinally in guides to and fro, so asto uncover one or both ends of the table structure beneath, and having underneath the said cover a series of inclined receptacles, slides, or drawers, or two oppositely-inclin'ed series, the said drawers having their upper ends upon the same general level,

Fig. 2 is a: longitudinal vertical section through the print:

so as readily to be drawn upward above the level of thesaid tablecover when the same has been pushed back in its guides, so as to expose the upper end of one or-more of the said inclined drawers. When the drawer is thus drawn upward by the hand, a suitable hand-hold being provided at the upper end thereof,it is locked in an open position by suitable catches or notches, so thatthe prints, &c., contained therein may be readily examined in a raised position, and may be successively laid over upon the table-cover in front of the said slide or drawer. Portfolios also may be kept in these drawers for use in asiniilar way, and by inserting transverse shelves in the drawers prints of various sizes, or books for students,

850., may be readily kept secure, and adapted for exhibition or use at a moments notice. As the slides when loaded with prints, 8100., are somewhat heavy, their inclined position makes it easy to draw them out, as the end of the table or cabinet serves as asupport for one hand while the other hand raises the slide or.

drawer. W'hen raised to a suitable height,the

drawers drop back into their notches and are locked by their own gravity, and the prints from their backward inclination have no tendency to topple over. The slides alsooccupyingthe line of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle of which the height of the table case of text-books, the same may be held open by the impingement of the cover against the lower edge of the open book, while a lexicon, &c., may be consulted upon the table.

The second part of my invention consists in providing the cabinet described with pivoted bearings or trunnion's at the ends, supported 'upon suitable legs, so as to enable the cabinet to be laterally inclined for purposes of exhibition, &c., and held in such inclined position, so that an observer seated-upon a chair at the side of the cabinet may be enabled to examine prints, 850., as they are laid down upon the inclined -table-cover, which, in such case, I provide, usually, with guard-rails to prevent the prints, 850., from slipping off at the side as they are successively turned out upon the table.

The third part of my invention consists in the construction of the locking devices,whereby the cabinet may be opened at one end or the other, or may be entirely locked up by the use of a single key, and in various other matters of detail hereinal'ter described.

Referring to the drawings, A (see Fig. 2) is atable provided with a downwardly-extending inclosed case reaching nearly to the floor, and having inclined ends, as shown. This case or box is provided with a bottom, G, and vertical sides, and is nearly as wide and as long as the cover of the table B. It is provided with legs or supports 0 C, (see Fig. 1,) which are braced by the cross-bars D D, Figs. 1 and 2, and have casters, E E, beneath, for moving the table about. Along the upper and outer part of the sides of the case extends on each side a strip or tongue, A A, Figs. 3 and 6, which,with the grooves upon the inner sides of the guide-bars B B of the cover B, form guides, so that the tablecover may be slid longitudinally to and fro to expose one or the other end of the case A, or to cover the entire case, as may be desired. The said cover B, which is practically an ordinary tablecover' when in use, may be of plain wood or clolh covered, and is preferably provided underneath the ends with transverse grooves B B", to prevent water from creeping around underneath so as to enter the case A and damage the contents. The sides are fully protected by the overhanging guide-strips .wood or iron.

and dovetail groove B B A A. The sides of the case A, inside the same, are provided with a series of parallel inclined strips, U U U U, Figs. 2, 6, 9, preferably parallel with the inclined ends of the said case A. These parallel strips U U, which serve as guides for the slides or drawers, to be hereinalter described, may be three or four inches apart, more or less, according to circumstances, and may be of As seen in Figs. 2'and 8, these strips U U tend to cross each other as they meet at their lower ends, upon diagonal lines,

so that the inner ones become shorter and shorter. This shortening may be altogether upon the part of the strips U U at one end, or may alternate, as shown in the figures. These strips U U may project inward from the sides an inch, perhaps, or they may be complete parallel partitions extending entirely across the case A, to form separate compartments when sliding drawers are not used, or for other reasons. Between each pair of these strips or ways U U are runners arranged to fit the same, which are usually as wide as the strips U U, and each pair of runners are united by a back board extending across the case A, so that the runners and back boards slide up or down like an inclined drawer. Near the bottom of the runners, leaving enough space below to afford a support for the drawer when partially pulled out, I provide a transverse board or cross-strip wide enough to nearly 13011011 the under side of the drawer which slides in front. These cross-pieces form the ends of the drawers and complete the same. W'here smaller prints or drawings are to be accommodated, or for books, 8nd, I provide other intermedi' ate cross-pieces. both transverse and vertical, so as to divide the drawers into smaller sections. To lock these drawers when open, I prefer to cut the ends of the strips U U at the top at an angle, as shown in Fig. 6, and notch the runners of the drawers F on their under side, so that as the drawer is pulled upward, when the cross-piece S, Fig. (5, is on a level. with the top of the table-cover B, the notches R will drop over the ends of the strips U and the drawer F be held securely open. To close it, the drawer is pulled up a little and tilted slightly forward, when the notches will disengage themselves and the drawer slidedown the ways U U to its place, when the cover B may be pushed back to its place over the case A, and the article will serve the purpose of an ordinary table.

For small prints, hooks. &c., I use several cross-boards, S S S", (see Figs. 2, 6, and 9,) and also a corresponding series of notches, It 1% it, Fig. 6. To admit the notch R or It,it is sometimes necessary to cut away a little of the front sides of the strips U U, upon which the drawer slides,partway down, so that the top may drop back more readily when not fully open. The drawer is supported in an inclined position, when open, by the impingement of the front side of the lower ends of the runners at \V, Fig. 6, against the rear of the strips U in front of the drawer and by the engagement and support of the runner at BI against the rear strip at U. It will be seen that the drawers may be thus held open at various points, or may be drawn entirely out and used as a portfolio or tray in other parts of the room or elsewhere, and be afterward returned to the cabinet for safe keeping. To prevent prints when laid upon the drawers singly from slipping down over the cross-bars S S S, Fig. 6, 1 sometimes use a flexible strip ot'felt or rubber, something likeaso-called weather-strip, whichI attach, as shown at YY Y, to the cross-bars, and which, when the drawers are slipped down will form a tight flexible union against the back of the drawer in front, and will readily bend over when the prints are laid over it upon the table while in use. I sometimes, as at Y,

Fig. 6, prolong this hinged strip to form a flap things likely to be lying upon the middle of As the sliding cover B is alent means may be used, of course.

' venient, when writing, to slip out the cover to one end to secure better light or for other rea sons, which can be done without reference to the drawers or their uses. To look the sliding cover B, which also of course secures the drawers and their contents, 1 use the device shown in the different figures. Other equiv- In the triangular space shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and which is formed by the inner lines of the inclined drawers, I usually place a transverse drawer, H, which slides in and out like the drawers commonly used in desks, 850.

Above this drawer H, and immediately beneath the grooved side bars, B B, of the cover B, I provide a transversely sliding board, I, extending entirely across the table,and having its ends projecting out somewhat from the sides thereof. This board I may be of any width, irom a simple locking-strip to a board, say, twenty inches wide, and which, when drawn out, will make a supplementary shelf or table for writing, trimming prints, etching. or other purposes. The sliding motion of thisv board I is controlled 'by a stop or cross-piece, 1 which I prefer to fix at such point as will enable the board to be drawn out principa'lly 011 one side, the other side having only sufficient motion to enable the end of the board to be concealed by the sides of the table, as will be shown. This stop I? abuts against the frame ofthe table, as shown in the difi'erent figures. Underneath the ends of the board I are notches I l, toenable the same to be drawn out when hidden by the frame of the table. In its normal position the board I projects from the frame of the table A at each side, (see Fig. 3,) immediately under the side bars, B B, of the cover B. To the under side of B, at each side, is a lug. B or B, (see Fig. 1,) one of the said lugs abutting against one side of the locking-board I and the other against the opposite side. As theselugs engage against the sidesofl, the coverBcan be moved neither to one side nor the other, but will be firmly *secured against heavy usage.

A common lock and key, K, (see Fig, 3,) in the frame A locks the board I in place and secures the whole. When the board I is unlocked, if it be pushed inward, so as to lie flush with the frame of A, the cover B may be pushed longitudinally to the right, as the lug B will pass the end of I frame of A, when the lug B will-clear the ob-,

structiomand the cover maybe pushed to the left, being again arrested on its return by the impingementof the lug B against the nowprojecting opposite end of I. By these means the cover B, which is heavy, and may be loaded with books, ornaments, &c., and would be difficult to accurately adjust to a key-hole, is brought up sharply to its place and much more securely held than could be done by a simple key bolt. The board I, which is quite light, may be readily adjusted to the key-hole. The drawer H, I show as triangular in cross-section, (see Fig. 3,) and I modify or dispense with it, if so desired. The space above the board I and between the sides of thecase A, occupying the space extending from one set of drawers to the other, I form into a shallow box or tray, Z, Figs. 2 and 3, which is uncovered by sliding back the cover B, and which I use for holding loose prints, mounts, asmall easel, an etching-bath, various tools, or for. such other purposes as may be found most convenient.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, I providethe drawers F F F, &c.,with hand-holds or openings I,to enable them to be more readily drawn out. Other similar devices may be used in stead, of course, if preferred.

Where my cabinet is to be used exclusively for galleries, print-stores, or exhibition purposes, I re'nder'it more convenient by mounting the case A and its coacting parts upon t-runnions at the ends thereof, and which form a modification of the ordinary form of legs shown in the other figures. This pivoted arrangement-is shown in Fig. 7.- of the box or case A, I provide a pivoted bearing or trunnion, O, which supports the case A,with all its'parts,upon the expanded'legs O, the bottom parts of which are connected by bars M lVLextending beneath the case A; from one support 0 to the other, and so arranged near the floor that the case A, when rocked upon the pivots O, willf-lear the said bars M. The pivot O is so placed as to nearly balance the case A as it rotates. I provide a hood, B if necessary, to assist in sustaining the weight of the cabinet A upon the trunnionsO, as'this weight is often very considerable.

To fix the cabinet at various angles of inclination, I provideaseries of holes, A A A A concentric with the pivot O, and a pin, L, passed through the hole 0, will secure the same at any angle desired. I sometimes'use other well-known fastenings, but the pin and holes will serve the purpose equally 'well.

To preventthe prints, &c., when laid out upon the table-cover B, from slipping off when the same is'inclined, I provide guard-rails P P, along the sides of B, Fig. 7, against which the prints will rest at their lower margins when laid over from the drawers F upon the said cover B. I sometimes fix these guard-rails P P permanently, and sometimes make them detachable.

In Fig. 8 I show an ornamental parlor-table constructed for use with my cabinet, in which smaller prints-say two feet or less in size-- At each end I judgment, so good as the sliding cover, but

may have some special advantages under certain circumstances want of room, 850.

In Fig. 10 the slides or drawers incline outwardly as they descend, instead of inwardly. This gives a space under the table for the legs of a sitter, and also shows the prints, 8m, nearer the end of the same, as they front outwardly; but I do not prefer this form for various obvious reasons.

All these modifications are contained in the invention, as shown, and may be indifferently applied without departing from the essential features thereof.

I am aware that various cases having one or more inclined receptacles have been in use heretofore, and that show-cases have been made or used with trays in an inclined position, and I do not claim any of the above features broadly, but confine myself to the invention as herein described and claimed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis-- 1. -A combined table and cabinet for drawings, prints, or books, consisting of a case, A, having inclosed sides, a series of inclined receptacles or drawers, F F, opening upward within the said case A, in combination with the removable table-cover B, constructed to protect the upper ends of the said receptacles or be removed to expose the same, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the case A,longitudinally sliding and guided cover B, and seri s of inclined drawers F F F, the transversely-adjustable board I, together with thediagonallyopposite locking-lugs B B the whole con strut-ted to operate substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a table case or cabinet, A, having a removable and adjustable cover, B, and a series of drawers opening upward upon the same general level, of the handholds '1, for operating the same, substantially as described.

4. A cabinet for holding and exhibiting pictures, consisting of a table provided with a longitudinally sliding and guided cover and an inclosed case beneath the same opening upward, and provided with a series of inclined slides or drawers adapted to contain pictures, and to be successively drawn upward when the said cover has been partially removed, said drawers being held open by stops or catches, so as to exhibit the pictures contained therein, the same being protected from injury by the said sliding cover when the same is in place, substantially as described.

the frame of the case A and secure the said drawers in an open or partially-open position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a case or cabinet, the guide -strips U U, the series of inclined drawers F F F F, the cross-strips S, S, or S the locking-catches R R, the side strips, F, having abutment W at the lower end thereof to impinge against the rear side of the guide-strips U in front, and abutment R, to bear against the strip U behind, so,as to support the said drawer in an open position, substantially as described.

7. The case or cabinet for prints, 806., consisting of a removable cover, B, a series of inclined drawers or receptacles, F F F contained in an inclosed case, A, beneath the said cover B and opening upward upon the same general level, in combination with supporting-legs at the ends of the said case A, provided with trunnions between which the said ease'is pivoted by the opposite pins or supports, 00, and the stops A and bolt or catch L, the whole constructed to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with the case A, sliding and guided cover B, upwardlyinclined slides or drawers F F F &c., trunnions O O, supports 0 O, and connecting bar or bars M, the guard-rails P P, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the case A and iiiclined slides or drawers F F F, the transverse divisions S S S and the catches R B It, adapted to support the said drawers at different elevations, substantially as described. 10. In combination with the case A and one or more inclined slides or drawers, F, having cross-bars S S, the flexibly-hinged flaps Y, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. A table case or cabinet consisting of case A, legs 0 C, longitudinally sliding and guided cover B, double series of oppositelyinclined slides or drawers F F F F F F, and the board I or drawer H, interposed between the said double series of slides in the case A and moving transversely thereto, sub stantially as described.

12. In combination with the case A, sliding and guided cover B, having lugs B B, adapted to engage against the ends of a transverse locking-bar, the locking-board I, constructed to be pushed in at either side of the case A flush with the same, to give clearance for the lug B or B, and to be drawn out at one side to form a supplementary desk or table, substantially as described.

ISAAC W. HEYSINGER.

Witnesses:

J. LOREN HEYSINGER, M. B. FENNINGER.

ICC 

